Girl Scouts Charts New Course
at 50th National Convention

Ann Curry, America Ferrera and Dominique Dawes
to Attend Tri-Annual Event in Atlanta, October 7-10

October 6, 2005

CONTACT:
Kristen Ryan
Patrice Tanaka & Company, Inc.
212-229-0500 ext. 244
kryan@ptanaka.com

NEW YORK – Nearly 10,000 Girl Scout members and volunteers will gather in Atlanta tomorrow for the opening ceremony of the 2005 Girl Scout National Council Session/50th Convention. The event, which is held once every three years, brings together the diverse membership of the organization for a variety of activities, workshops and speakers focused on transforming Girl Scouts for the 21st century while retaining the original vision of founder Juliette Gordon Low. As part of its commitment to remaining the best personal leadership program for girls, Girl Scouts is crafting a unified core business strategy to better position itself for the decades ahead.

The event, which is being hosted by the Girl Scout Council of Northwest Georgia, along with the seven other Girl Scout councils in Georgia, will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta from Friday, October 7 to Monday, October 10.

Keynote speakers at this year's convention include Ann Curry, news anchor of NBC's "Today" show; Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, president of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C.; and Kavita N. Ramdas, president and chief executive officer of the Global Fund for Women in San Francisco. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, a Girl Scout alumna, will welcome attendees during the opening ceremony.

The convention will also feature special appearances by actress America Ferrera of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Real Women Have Curves, and Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Dominique Dawes, who will speak to girls about the importance of self-esteem as spokespeople for uniquely ME! The Girl Scout/Dove Self-Esteem Program.

Highlights of this year's convention also include:

• Open Space Technology — An engagement practice based on the principle that people can self-organize and create inspired futures for their organization by discussing one important question, Open Space Technology will give convention delegates the chance to work together to help determine the most effective ways for Girl Scouting to serve girls in the future. This special one-day event (October 7 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) is expected to be one of the largest Open Space meetings ever held in the U.S.
  
• Girl Congress — As part of Girl Scouting's commitment to being the voice of girls, the theme for the 2005 National Girl Congress is Our Voices, Our Issues, Our Futures. Approximately 900 Girl Scouts, ages 14-17, will attend forums to discuss ideas and issues that are important to them, such as self-esteem and the relationship between physical and mental health. Following the Congress, participating girls will present their findings to the entire delegation.
  
• 2005 Girl Scout Gold Award Young Women of Distinction — Girl Scouts of the USA will honor 25 top Girl Scouts with the 2005 Girl Scout Gold Award Young Women of Distinction. Chosen for their exceptional community service projects, which first earned them the Gold Award locally—the highest award in Girl Scouting—these girls represent the top Gold Award recipients in the country.
  
• Strategy Cafes — These forums are to discuss the strategic priorities for the Girl Scout Movement , and will be open to delegates, official visitors, and anyone with access to the Hall of Exhibits (see below).
  
• Hall of Exhibits — Interactive exhibits open to the public will include: Get Fit! Shape Up! highlighting physical fitness; Girls Go Tech, focusing on creative thinking, design, invention, building and analysis; Get With The Land for information on protecting our land, water and air; and, Girl Headquarters…The Place to Be, where girls from around the country can discuss key issues important to girls.

The National Council Session, which runs concurrent to the 50th National Convention, serves as a forum for voting on policy direction critical to the Girl Scout Movement. This landmark gathering will celebrate 93 years of Girl Scouting while focusing on a new strategy for the 21st century, one which supports Girl Scouts' goal—to help girls to live the values of the Girl Scout Promise and Law—with a new vision for sustained success, growth, and expansion.

The National Council of Girl Scouts of the USA consists of national and international delegates, the National Nominating Committee, past presidents of Girl Scouts of the USA, and other persons who may be elected by the National Council.

Sponsors of this year's National Convention include UPS, The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, and The Dove Self-Esteem Fund.

About Girl Scouts of the USA

Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent organization for and leading authority on girls with 3.7 million girl and adult members. Now in its 93rd year, Girl Scouting cultivates character, confidence, and social conscience in girls while teaching them the critical life skills to succeed as adults. The organization strives to serve girls from every corner of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. For more information on how to join, volunteer, or donate to the Girl Scouts, call (800) GSUSA 4 U (800-478-7248) or visit www.girlscouts.org.

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